Q&A; with Barb Handley

Barb Handley was born in Cunnamulla and boarded at Brisbane Girls Grammar School for her secondary education. Barb was one of the first women in the Queensland education system who wasn’t forced to resign when she married. Her husband Richard’s job took the couple to towns in western and central Queensland where their two daughters were born. They now have six beautiful grandchildren. After 48 years of marriage and 30 years as a high school teacher, she considers herself to have had a wonderful life and hopes that there are still many more good years to come.

Occupation: Retired teacher

Age: 71

Marital status: Married

Children: Two

What is your favourite thing about the Western Downs region?

What I like about the region is that it is “country”. It is small enough to know many of the people who live here but still has the advantages of city living – good shopping, good entertainment and good restaurants.

What inspired you to become involved with Cancer Council?

When I retired I wanted something to do. I wasn’t happy to do nothing. I had lost two sisters-in-law to cancer and my husband is a survivor. So I decided to join in the fight against this terrible disease that afflicts so many people.

Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

Judi Dench. She is a strong woman with a sense of humour, attractive without the frills and powerful without being bossy. I can always fantasise about my personality.

What has been the best decision you have made and why?

I have to go with two decisions – the one to marry Richard and the one to become a high school teacher. Forty-eight years of marriage and more than 30 years in a classroom have yielded great rewards and happy times.

Do you have any lucky items, objects or traditions?

I don’t have any lucky objects but I have always tried to find the silver lining in whatever happens and I have also tried to imbue our girls with that belief.

Is there anything you wished would come back into fashion?

Courtesy and consideration for others are on the top of my wish list for coming back into fashion. Putting others before self would make the world a much better place.

What three things do you think of most each day?

The three things that I think about most are: my family, my successful stoush with cancer and the need to put it behind me and how can I get out of doing chores without feeling guilty.

What do you consider is the most important appliance in a house?

My washing machine! Heaven help me if it doesn’t work. I hate washing by hand.

If you were prime minister/ruler of the world what laws would you make?

I would legislate that all people, especially men and women, are equal and that everyone could worship their religion of choice. How wonderful it would be to remove the fear of persecution and the horror of cruelty and abuse.